Korean teen posts record win

KIM Joo Hyung of South Korea edges Jobim Carlos of the Philippines to rule the ICTSI Pueblo De Oro Championship yesterday at the Pueblo De Oro Golf and Country Club in Cagayan de Oro. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

CAGAYAN DE ORO – Kim Joo Hyung became the youngest winner of the Philippine Golf Tour as he beat the hottest player in the circuit with a kind of resolve and resilience rarely seen on a teenager in a big-time tournament.

The rising 16-year old Korean star, who honed his talent and skills at Riviera before moving over to Southwoods, proved that he’s ripe for the picking as he foiled Jobim Carlos with clutch birdies to capture the P3-million ICTSI Pueblo De Oro Championship crown by one on a final round 69 at the Pueblo De Oro Golf and Country Club here Saturday.

Pressed by Carlos after 54 holes, Kim shook off the PGT Apo leg winner’s early charge and hiked his overnight one-stroke lead to three with a gutsy 35 at the turn.

Then, he rode the backside pressure, including a double-bogey mishap on the par-3 11th, by coming through with decisive three straight birdies from No. 15 to frustrate Carlos and clinch the victory on a 72-hole total of 18-under 270 worth a whopping P550,000.

The Filipino ace actually closed out with three straight birdies, a kind of finish that could easily win championships. But he fell short of even forcing a playoff as Kim took a two-stroke lead to the final hole and secured the win with a routine par windup.

Carlos also made a 69 for a 271 and took the P370,000 runner-up prize in the fifth leg of the PGT.

“I was surprised to hear that (youngest winner on the tour). I just wanted to win this one, so it’s a bonus,” said Kim, who bested Miguel Tabuena’s feat when the latter nailed his first pro win at 17 at Splendido in 2012.

But what made Kim’s exploit impressive was that he did it in his just third tournament as a pro.

After placing joint second with Aussie Tim Stewart in the PGT Q-School topped by compatriot Lee Song at Splendido last February, he decided to skip the first two PGT events to polish his game in Thailand for two months.

He debuted with a joint sixth place effort at Apo then duplicated his finish at Del Monte which he actually co-led with Tony Lascuña in the final round marred by a mid-round miscue that cost him a two-stroke penalty and eventually his title bid.